The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) today announced 2017 cumulative grant donations of over $1.5 million to 66 local nonprofit organizations, which impacted one million underserved youth in some of the most challenged neighborhoods of Los Angeles. These awards are part of LADF’s annual grants program which disseminates funds three times a year to organizations who fall within its three pillars: Education + Literacy, Health + Wellness and Sports + Recreation.

“Since 1995, LADF has contributed $21 million to local communities, including $13 million in grants,” said Nichol Whiteman, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “We are so grateful to our donors and fans who support us by purchasing a 50/50 raffle ticket, bidding on silent auction items, sponsoring events and providing general donations. Together we are impacting organizations who produce incredible results on fields, in classrooms and at community centers throughout Los Angeles.”

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner welcomes kids at a LADF event.
(Photo courtesy of LADF)

LADF will continue its grant-making program in 2018 with deadlines on February 1, May 1 and August 1. To learn more visit dodgers.com/ladf.

Education + Literary: 45% of funding. Grant recipients included organizations that are committed to literacy, middle school engagement and college access.

Education + Literacy Snapshot

• $15,000 to 826LA enabling 4,000 students to create and publish their own books
• $15,000 to Para Los Niño’s K-8 literacy program “Reading is Leading” reaching 1,400 students
• $15,000 to College Spring to provide high-quality SAT and college preparation programming for 2,500 low income students
• $15,000 to Get Lit to bring a comprehensive in-school poetry based literacy program to over 50 Title 1 schools
• $15,000 to Discovery Cube LA and Kidspace Children’s Museum, respectively, to provide scholarships for students to visit the museums

Health + Wellness: 29% of funding. Grant recipients included organizations that provide direct health, nutrition and fitness services to students at school or program sites.

Health + Wellness Snapshot

• $20,000 to just keep livin’ Foundation to support active lifestyle and nutrition programming for high school students in Inglewood and South LA
• $25,000 to Peer Health Exchange to train college students to teach skills based health curriculum to 1,500 high school students
• $15,000 to American Heart Association to deliver CPR training to 10,000 students at Title 1 schools 
• $10,000 to Youth Policy Institute’s Promise of Wellness program to provide physical education, nutrition curriculum and place-activation touchstones at schools impacting 7,100 students
• $25,000 to California State University, Northridge to provide scholarships in honor of Roy Campanella within the Physical Therapy doctoral program

Sports + Recreation: 26% of funding. Grant recipients included organizations focused on inclusion, preservation and promotion of sports, youth development through sport and promotion of safe places to play.

Sports + Recreation Snapshot

• $15,000 to Metro YMCA to provide in-school physical education to schools in East and South LA
• $10,000 to Students Run LA to provide race fees, uniforms, shoes, transportation and post-race nutrition for over 3,000 students
• $170,000 to Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball In Inner Cities) Affiliate Partners to offset field maintenance and umpire fees associated with their delivery of the Dodgers RBI program serving 7,300 boys and girls at 57 locations in Los Angeles (City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation – East and South Agencies, Major League Baseball Youth Academy Compton, Boys and Girls Clubs of Venice, Los Angeles Boys and Girls Clubs, H.I.L.L., City of Inglewood Department of Parks, Recreation and Library Services)

Strategic Partnerships

• $160,000 to The Jackie Robinson Foundation to support 11 students with four-year scholarships, mentorship and leadership development
• $100,000 to Vision to Learn to support free eye screenings/exams and glasses to low-income students in the Compton Unified School District
• $63,500 to Positive Coaching Alliance LA to provide athletes at Title 1 schools with workshops designed to promote positive character development
• $50,000 to Spark LA to support transportation for 300 students to travel to workplace apprenticeships
• $50,000 to City Year LA to support mentors impacting 5,300 students at four middle schools
• $50,000 to Library Foundation of Los Angeles to support the “Summer at the Library” program reaching 67,000 children

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(Article courtesy of LA Dodgers)